Driving around bicycles can be frustrating. Having to wait behind a cyclist slowly climbing up one of Morgantown’s notoriously steep and narrow roads probably won’t make your day. For Morgantown cyclists, having cars lined up behind you sometimes blowing their horns, sometimes even yelling at you and then passing you so close you can feel the heat from their engines can be pretty scary.
Morgantown’s roads probably won’t get flatter, wider or straighter so how can we improve the ways in which cars and bicycles share the road?
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Morgantown laws grant bicyclists the same rights to the roads as motorists and subject them to the same rules. If motorists treat cyclists as drivers of vehicles and if cyclists act as drivers of vehicles, driving around them should be no more troublesome than driving around other slow moving vehicles such as school buses, delivery trucks, construction equipment or farm vehicles.
When the road is too narrow for cars and bikes to travel safely side by side, it’s safest for the bicyclist to ride near the center of the lane. The WV Driver Licensing Handbook says, “When passing a bicyclist, slow down, make sure he is aware of you and leave plenty of room between him or her and your vehicle. If there is no room to pass and traffic is approaching, wait until traffic has gone by before passing.” Fifteen states have passed a rule that requires cars to leave a minimum of 3 feet between the car and bicycle while passing.
There is no need to blow your horn when passing a bicyclist. Blowing your horn can startle a cyclist and cause him or her to weave into your path.
Be extra watchful for bicycles. They’re narrower than cars and can be hard to see. Because they’re narrow, their speed can be hard to judge when they’re approaching you. On level roads and especially down hills they can be traveling a lot faster than you think. Before you pull out in front of them or turn in front of them, be sure you’re not going to cut them off.
When turning left at an intersection, yield to an oncoming bicyclist just as you would yield to an oncoming motorist.
Some cyclists will ride as far to the right of the lane as possible even when they intend to travel straight through an intersection or straight past a driveway. Before making a right turn onto a street or driveway, look right to be sure you’re not going to cut off a cyclist who’s beside you on your right.
In inclement weather give cyclists extra room. Visibility is usually reduced and stopping and turning require more room for both you and the bicyclist. Watch out for road hazards such as potholes, glass and other debris. Give the cyclist space to maneuver around them.
When you have parked on a street, look behind you before you open your car door. A cyclist riding close to parked cars could crash right into it.
Especially watch out for children on bicycles. They often act unpredictably. Expect the unexpected.
Treating bicyclists as drivers of vehicles can minimize the chance of a serious accident. Remember that you are a lot bigger than the bicycle and you can easily inflict serious injury on the bicyclist
An edited version of this article was published in the Dominion Post on July 8, 2010 page 1-D as Treat bicycles like vehicles on the road.
Frank Gmeindl is a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor and Chairman of the Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board.
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